Paul Merson to speak at fundraising lunch near Lichfield

Former England, Arsenal and Aston Villa footballer Paul Merson will be the guest speaker at a charity sporting lunch near Lichfield.

Drayton Manor Theme Park will host the event in aid of Birmingham Children’s Hospital, St Giles Hospice and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation on December 6.

Held in the park’s Tower Suite, the lunch will be compered by BBC Radio WM’s Jimmy Franks, while comic Ian ‘Sludge’ Lees will also be entertaining visitors.

The highlight of the lunch will be the fundraising auction of sporting memorabilia, including signed Aston Villa and Wolves shirts and the use of a Mini car for a weekend.

Colin Bryan, Managing Director of Drayton Manor Theme Park, said:

“This popular event has previously raised over £100,000 for a variety of worthy causes. I hope that this year’s event will be even more successful as every penny raised is invaluable and will go a long way towards helping others.”

Individual tickets cost £57.50 which includes a four-course lunch followed by coffee, while a table for 10 is £550. For more information email hospitality@draytonmanor.co.uk or call 01825 252408.